Ancient Indian Civilization

Chapter 6

Environment(Location, Geography and Climate)

• India is a subcontinent. • The highest mountain range in the world, Himalayas

are located to the north of Indian subcontinent.• Climate is mostly hot and humid. • Monsoons bring rain from June – August. • Has many rivers – Indus and its tributaries, Ganga,

Yamuna, Kaveri etc.• Has a very fertile land. • Around the Indus valley the soil was fertile due to

flooding.

Religious System• The religion of Aryans was Brahamanism.• Hinduism – 3 major gods and many other deities (Polytheists)• Brahma - Creator• Vishnu - Preserver• Shiva - Destroyer

– Important Hindu texts – Vedas and Upanishads– Believed in karma and reincarnation – Believed that everyone had atman or the soul and the

ultimate purpose of the soul was to reunite with the Brahman.

– Aryan priests performed religious ceremonies like yagyna– Temples for deities with vast ceremonies (Pooja)

• Buddhism– Started by man named Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) (563 BC

to 483 BC). – Found Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya after 14 weeks of

meditation– Talked about the four noble truth and 8 fold path (refer to

book)– Preached that humans can achieve Nirvana – state of perfect

peace– 2 sects of Buddhism today

• Theravada ( Followers of original thinking)• Mahayana (Moderates)

– Buddhism spread mainly because of the efforts of Asoka the Great - Sent missionaries to Europe, Asia and other countries.

– Temples are called Viharas

• Jainism– Based on the teachings of Mahavira ( Around 599

B.C)– Believe in non-violence (Ahimsa)– 4 major principles• Injure no life• Tell the truth• Do not steal• Own no property

Culture - (Art and Architecture)• Harappan Cities

– Planned their cities - Surrounded by huge walls.– Roads were built at 90 degree angles. – They had indoor plumbing as well. – Houses had flat roofs.– Built tanks to store water and public wells.– They made seals, pottery items, jewelry, ivory objects and cotton clothing.

• Aryans did not build big cities.• Built temples

– Some were built entirely out of mountain sites like Ajanta– Walls had paintings, sculpture and idols of the gods and religious

teachings– Gupta rulers promoted and built Hindu and Buddhist temples.– Ashoka built many Buddhist temples.

• Created paintings of the deities.• Buddhist temple were called Stupas and had domed roofs.• Hindus built small temples with flat roofs with idols of the god.

Intellectual Advancement(Writing, Language, Technical Advances)

• Harappans had their own system of weights and measures.• Ayurveda – Medicine knowledge

– Inoculation– Surgeries to repair broken bones, treat wounds etc.– Used herbs for medicines

• Language and Literature– Harappan writing has not yet been deciphered.– Aryans used Sanskrit – Aryan priests wrote hymns, rituals, myths etc. which were learned and

passed on from generation to generation– Vedas ; Upanishads ; Mahabharata (Bhagavada Gita) ; Ramayana– Kalidasa was a prominent poet– People told poems and stories that teach lessons. (Panchatantra and

Jataka Tales)– Under the Gupta Empire, a university was established at Nalanda, a

center for Buddhist learning.

Intellectual Advancement(Writing, Language, Technical Advances)

• Warfare– Aryans developed chariots and advanced weapons– Use of Elephants– Military scribes in Asoka’s army wrote battle plans.

• Astronomy – Knew about 7 of the 9 planets– Earth was sphere and rotated on axis– Earth revolves around Sun– Could predict eclipses

• Mathematics and Other Sciences– Hindu-Arabic Numerals ( 0 – 9)

• Metallurgy – Made alloys– Known for iron

Political - Government and Laws• Harappan political structure or governance model. – Had high level of social control– Not much information

• The Aryans – Ruled after the Harappans – Introduced the concept of kings, called rajas, who were

often skilled warriors. – Rajas often fought with and against each other.– Lived in small communities, based on family ties.

• Most of Ancient Indian history was dominated by small rulers/kings except for Maurya and Gupta dynasty times.

Social Structure - Structure of Society• Social Structure was divided into the caste system or varnas

• Based on people’s birth• 4 major castes

• Brahmins on the top – priests and teachers• Kshatriyas – Warriors and the rulers• Vaishya – Farmers, craftsmen, traders• Shudras – Menial jobs, Workers and servants.

• People with more money could move up in the caste system.• Inter caste marriage was not allowed• People who did not follow the rules of the society were called

untouchables.• Rules of the caste system were very strict.

• Women had a limited role• Take care of children and home• Couldn’t choose their husbands.

Economic System(Trade and Agriculture)

• The Aryans traded with Mesopotamians, Kushites and Egyptians - Silk Route

• Farmers produced surpluses of food, which led to the appearance of towns.

• Farming improved because of irrigation systems.

Important Rulers

• Mauryan Dynasty– Chandragupta Maurya - (320 B.C to 301 B.C)

• Was the 1st ruler of Ancient India’s 1st dynasty• Became a Jain

– Ashoka the Great - (270 B.C to 233 B.C) • Was the greatest of Mauryan rulers.• Became a Buddhist • built rest houses and wells for public welfare and freed prisoners.

• Gupta Dynasty – Were Hindus but were tolerant to Jain and Buddhist religions as well.– Chandragupta I - started the Gupta Empire around 320 A.D. – Chandragupta II - took over as a king in 375 A.D. – Hun armies from north took over the Gupta Empire.

Important Cities

• Harappa• Mohenjodaro• Kalibangan• Dholavira• Lothal• Pataliputra - Capital of Ashoka’s empire• Nalanda – Buddhist University set up by

ChandraGupta II

Other Information